A match against Verdy that we cannot lose no matter what

The 1st final match will be against Verdy Kawasaki, which will move its home to Tokyo next season.

While having respect for this traditional club, we cannot afford to lose as the first J club from Tokyo. This will be our first official match against them, and we want to show our determination in this battle.

Supporters gathered behind the goal on the second floor of Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium overwhelmed Verdy even before the match started. The players must have fully understood those feelings.

Unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities, conceded the first goal from a single chance

In strong winds, both teams proceed at a cautious pace, as if probing each other. Verdy, centered around center-backs Nakazawa and Yoneyama, does not recklessly push up the defensive line, while the double pivot of midfielders Hayashi and Yamada effectively manages space in defense, utilizing the technique and strength of forward Kim and the speed of Iio in their strategy.

However, in the 9th minute, Iio received a through pass from Kana, and Komine, who was momentarily slow to respond, made a sliding tackle in the penalty area. This play was called a foul, resulting in a penalty kick. Hayashi calmly converted it, giving Verdy the lead. Tokyo was caught off guard right from the start.

However, Tokyo launched a counterattack. In the 11th minute, Fujiyama advanced and cut inside with a dribble for a shot. In the 12th minute, TUTO, Kobayashi, and Naito worked together to unsettle the Verdy defense. In the 17th minute, Yukihiko received a pass from Amaral, broke through on the right side, and crossed it back where TUTO took a shot. This was aimed directly at the goalkeeper, but just a minute later, in the 18th minute, Fujiyama on the left side set up Kobayashi for a shot, and Tokyo continued to press. In the 26th minute, a cross from Naito on the right side was met with a header from Yukihiko, who was positioned in front of the goal! It was a decisive moment, but it was denied by a fine save from goalkeeper Honnami, and the goal was not scored.

Super play, Honami roars!

Verdy defends by pulling back against Tokyo's fierce attack, preventing them from scoring in the final stages. Although they are allowed some freedom in midfield, they cannot utilize the space in front of the goal and are unable to launch their trademark quick counterattacks. In the 29th minute, Koiike is replaced by Kina. With this early substitution, Tokyo aims to increase their control in midfield. In the 33rd minute, TUTO receives a pass from Kobayashi after a quick transition from defense and wins a duel against Nakazawa to take a shot, but it goes just over the crossbar. In the 37th minute, Kobayashi takes a mid-range shot from a direct passing sequence involving Yukihiko, Amaral, and TUTO. Immediately after, in the 38th minute, Amaral breaks free on a counterattack and finds himself one-on-one with the GK, but this is saved by Honnami with his right foot! Although they have found their rhythm, they end the first half without converting any decisive chances.

In the second half, Verdy substituted Mikami for MF Hirochou, moving Ishizuka, who had been on the left side, closer to the center, and pushing Yamada, the defensive midfielder, to the right, establishing a midfield formation close to a diamond shape.

However, the attack while controlling the ball in Tokyo continued in the second half. In the 56th minute, Kobayashi broke through the left side with a dribble after exchanging passes with Fujiyama and delivered a cross. TUTO, who was free in front of the goal, took a decisive shot, but it went straight to the goalkeeper. In the 62nd minute, Amaral was fouled just outside the penalty area, and Yukihiko aimed directly at the free kick, but Honami saved it with one hand! Immediately after, TUTO's header from the corner kick was also met by Honami's left hand...

Compared to the first half, by the 63rd minute, they were finally able to create some space. Amaral jumped in for a cross from Yukihiko, who cut in from the left side, but just missed it. In the 69th minute, Tokyo substituted Todai for Yukihiko, who had played the full match up to that point, trying to break the situation...

Kim's strike dampens the counterattack mood

Despite attacking, we couldn't score a single goal, reminiscent of the defeats at the end of last year's J2 season. However, in J1, we do not end with just one goal conceded.

In the 73rd minute, Verdy DF Nishida intercepted a loose ball and passed it to the midfield. Yamada redirected the ball with a back header, and Kan shot without hesitation from outside the penalty area. The Tokyo DF couldn't close in, and Kan's free shot drew a beautiful trajectory as it found the back of the net.

Tokyo, caught off guard, quickly lost morale. In the 78th minute, they failed to catch Yamada, who had surged forward, allowing Kani to make a free header from the ensuing cross, resulting in the third goal. In the 80th minute, they substituted Kobayashi for Kaburaki, but their play remained disjointed on both offense and defense, leading to their first shutout loss of the season, finishing the 1st stage in 6th place.

If we consider today's match as just one out of 15, we can see the challenges and say it was a match that leads to the next step. However, given the effort put in so far, it is undeniable that there is a sense of dissatisfaction following the previous match against Kobe, and it ended in a disappointing way. I want to switch my mindset and approach the second stage.

Director Zhang's Comments

"We were able to finish the final home game with a victory. I think it was a good game that leads into the 2nd stage. (In response to the question about whether the effective side changes in the second half were instructed during the match) Once the actual game starts, it is the players' own judgment. We cultivate personal decision-making skills. This is the way of this team that I always emphasize."

Director Okuma's Comments

"It was a match that exposed our lack of decisiveness, the failure of the two forwards to function, and the lack of midfield structure when the opponent pulled back. This has been an issue since before this stage began, and it remains unresolved. Before competing in J1, there were aspects that we wouldn't know until we tried, but over the course of 15 matches, both individually and as a team, we have been able to grasp both the good and the bad. Our goal for the second stage is to avoid matches like today and to continue playing well, which means maintaining focus. I want to make adjustments to regain our confidence."